Mother, child and adolescent health high on Government agenda: Shri J P Nadda

The Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda at the inauguration of the Global Stakeholders Consultation Meeting on the Updated Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health-“Every Woman, Every Child”, in New Delhi on February 26, 2015. The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Special Advisor on Post-2015 Developing Planning, Amina Mohammed, the Assistant Director General, WHO (HQ), Dr. Flavia Bustreo, the Regional Director, WHO, SEARO, Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, the Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Shri B.P. Sharma and Youth Parliamentarian from Zimbabwe, Mr. Yemurai Nyoni are also seen.
Mother, child and adolescent health high on Government agenda: Shri J P Nadda

India hosts Global Stakeholder Consultation

The health of women, young adults and children is central to the governance agenda the Government and it is not just the concern of the global community. Reaffirming the commitment of the government towards meeting the health needs of mothers, adolescents and children, the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Shri J P Nadda stated this at the inauguration of the Global Stakeholders’ Consultation to update the strategy for health of Woman, Children and Adolescents- “Every Woman, Every Child”, here today. The global consultation is being hosted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare along with UN Secretary General’s Office, the World Health Organisation and Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH) and other H4+ partners comprising six United Nations agencies- UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Women, WHO and the World Bank.

Pointing that improved health outcomes are an economic and social investment which is an integral part for a robust and thriving economy, the Health Minister pointed out that India has made substantial progress on several indicators in the recent years. The under-five mortality rate has come down by over 61 per cent between 1990 and 2013; the neonatal mortality rate has registered a 47 per cent decline between 1990 and 2013, while the maternal mortality indicators have shown reduction of nearly 70 per cent between 1990 and 2013. He stated that India is geared to achieve its targets for both MGD 4 and 5.

ShriNadda stated that drawing on the lessons learned through the implementation of various targeted programmes under the NHM, existing traditional areas of work have been strengthened and newer focus areas have been identified. India has moved from its earlier focus on Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) to a new strategic approach, the RMNCH+A, focusing attention on all the life stages including adolescents. This new approach emphasizes inter-linkages between each of the five pillars under RMNCH+A, and connects community and facility based services.

The Health Minister highlighted the salient features of the Mission ‘Indradhanush’ to ensure vaccination of each and every left out and missed out child in India against seven vaccine-preventable diseases by 2020. These diseases include diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, measles and hepatitis B. He further added that India’s universal immunisationprogramme has been expanded to introduce three new vaccines for children: those against rotavirus, rubella and polio – targeting rotavirus, the leading cause of diarrhoea and among the biggest killers of children in our country.To address the challenge posed by the significant inequalities across and within states, the focus has been shifted to geographical areas of greatest concern and populations that carry the highest burden of illness and mortality, he stated.

Speaking at the occasion, MsAmina Mohammed, Special Advisor to UN Secretary Generalsaid that while tremendous progress has been made during the last decade on several indicators of mother, child and adolescent health, much remains to be done. There is need for deepening and strengthening partnerships between various stakeholders for achieving the goals for a sustainable development agenda. Emerging economies have an important role to play within this framework of partnership, she added.

The updated 2015 Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health seeks to inform the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda with a vision to ensure that by 2030 every woman, child, and adolescent can realize their potential and right to attain the highest level of health and wellbeing, dignity and human security. The new Global Strategy, set to be released at the UN General Assembly in September alongside the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will provide a roadmap for improving the health of women, children and adolescents between 2016 and 2030.

Shri Rajnath Singh stated that by increasing investments to improve infrastructure & passenger amenities, the Rail Budget has pushed the Railways back on the right track. The Rail Budget underscores our government`s plan to make the Railways more consumer-focused & passenger-friendly. Shri Prabhu deserves credit for it, the Home Minister added.

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Appointment of Special Directors in IB

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Shri Satish Chandra Jha, IPS (BH:81) and Shri Malay Kumar Sinha, IPS (UP:81), Additional Directors in the Intelligence Bureau (IB) as Special Directors in IB on ‘in-situ’ basis.

The above appointments are in the pay scale of Rs. 75,500-80,000/- by upgrading the posts held by them from the dates of their taking charge of the posts of Special Directors in IB.

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Reaction to the Railway Budget- Shri Bandaru Dattatreya

Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, the Minister of State (independent charge) for Labour and Employment has said that the Railway Budget presented today is development oriented, reformative and technology friendly. The Budget is progressive and takes care of revenue generation and resources mobilization, ensures transparency and accountability. Reacting to Railway budget here today, the Minister said the Budget gives priority to the completion of projects, improving passengers amenities, decongestion of heavy haul routes and speeding up of trains, emphasis on gauge conversion, doubling, tripling and electrification, safety.

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Renaming of schemes under MSME

During the review of the progress of the Central Sector Schemes (CSS) being implemented by the Coir Board namely “Rejuvenation, Modernization and Technology Upgradation”(REMOT) and “Coir Plan (General)” Scheme, it is felt that the names of the schemes do not convey the proper objectives of the schemes to the general public. Accordingly, the said schemes have been re-named with the approval of the competent authority as “Coir Udyami Yojana” (CUY) and “Coir Vikas Yojana” (CVY) respectively to make it better understood by the Stakeholders.

This information was given by the Minister of State, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Shri Giriraj Singh in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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Development in MSME Sector for Make in India Campaign

The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises has taken several steps such as provision of collateral free credit through Credit Guarantee Scheme, provision of Subsidy for installation of modern machinery through Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme (CLCSS), creating an ecosystem through Technology Centres (TCs) to support MSME Clusters for global competitive manufacturing through setting up of 15 new Technology Centres with World Bank assistance, augmenting the 18 existing TCs with new technologies and testing facilities, enhancing Competitiveness and Productivity through upscaling the various components of NMCP Scheme and also upscaling the cluster approach to improve development in the MSME sector following the announcement of the “Make in India Campaign”.

As MSMEs are important part of several values chains, it is expected that they will play an important role in the Government’s ‘Make in India’ drive. The Ministry will rise to the challenge through action plans directed at enhancement of the provision of collateral free credit through creation of state verticals for extending guarantees to the entrepreneurs of particular state with financial support from state governments, creation of similar verticals for women entrepreneurs and youth among SC/ ST and NE Regions. Augmentation of 18 existing TCs is to be supported by cluster network Mangers and a National Portal. Efforts are on to bridge the gap between Research Institutions and Industries through signing of MOUs with IISc and CSIR. Defence offset policy is being leveraged for creating ecosystem of defence manufacturing by MSMEs. A comprehensive skill mapping is also proposed as a first step towards alleviating the existing skill deficit. All these efforts are very much in synergy with Zero Effect Zero Defect manufacturing plan.

Development of MSMEs will be focused on both rural and urban areas depending upon the potentiality of the area. Efforts are being undertaken for the development of MSMEs in rural areas through implementation of Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), Khadi Grant, Workshed Scheme for Khadi Artisans and Mahila Coir Yojana etc.

This information was given by the Minister of State, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Shri Giriraj Singh in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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Funds sanctioned/ released under various schemes

The details of funds allocated and utilised under various schemes relating to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) under Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) during the current year, are given below. All plan schemes implemented by Ministry of MSME are Central Sector Schemes.
(Rs. in thousands)

Year

Allocation

Utilization

SCSP

TSP

SCSP

TSP

2014-15

3992400

2730000

2025300*

1308900*

* Upto 15th February, 2015

This information was given by the Minister of State, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Shri Giriraj Singh in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

“Rail budget is development-oriented, investor-friendly, goal-oriented and modern in approach and is in the interest of users. All regions of the country and sections of society have been kept in mind. Innovative and forward-looking initiatives have been proposed so that users are not over-burdened. Besides goals like speeding up of trains, emphasis on electrification, Project delivery, Passenger Amenities, Safety, Transparency & System Improvement and ensuring that Railways continue to be the preferred mode of transport for the masses, have also been taken care of.

Passenger fares have not been increased, so that general public is not affected. But provisions have been made for cleanliness, safety and amenities. Increase in allocation for passenger amenities by 67% without increasing the fares is indeed commendable. 200 more stations will come under Adarsh Station scheme and Wi – Fi will be provided at B category stations. 24X7 helpline for attending passenger problems and security related complaints and surveillance cameras in suburban coaches for the safety of women passengers are also good initiatives. Proposal for 77 new projects covering 9,400 kms. of doubling/ tripling/ quadrupling works is praiseworthy. Mobile phone charging facilities will be provided in general class coaches & will be increased in sleeper class coaches. Operation five minute is a new initiative for ensuring that travelers with unreserved tickets can buy these tickets within five minutes. More General class coaches will be added in identified trains. All these decisions clearly indicate that budget is pro-poor and passenger-friendly.

Railways will also leverage additional resources and it envisages an investment of Rs. 8.5 lakh crore in next five years. Plan Outlay has been increased by 52%. I am confident that the four goals as delineated by the Rail Minister to transform Indian Railways in next five years will be accomplished. Rail Ministry deserves compliments for a comprehensive, all-inclusive and passenger-friendly budget and my best wishes are with them.”

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Validity of Self Attested Documents

It is a constant endeavour of the Government to simplify procedures by introduction of self certification. For this, all Central Ministries / Departments as well as State Government / UTs have been requested to review the existing requirement in this regard and make provision for self certification, wherever possible. Response from 25 States / UTs has been received indicating action taken by them.

Different organizations prescribe different criteria for attestation, subject to statutory and legal provisions. As per its mandate, Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances has been requesting them to adopt self-certification, wherever possible, as a measure of administrative reform.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in Prime Minister’s office Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question by Shri Narendra Kumar Kashyap in the Rajya Sabha today.

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Amendment in Rules of Business of Government

It is the endeavour of the Government to reduce the multiple layers of decision making as far as possible. The 13th Edition of the Central Secretariat Manual of Procedure, which was brought out in September-2010, is being revised in consultation with all the Ministries / Departments of Government of India.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in Prime Minister’s office Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question by Shri Shantaram Naik in the Rajya Sabha today.

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No Stopping of Fresh Appointments

Government of India has not issued any instructions on stopping of fresh appointments in Government.

Whenever the vacancy arises due to retirement etc., the same is required to be filled-up as per the provisions made in Recruitment Rules by the concerned Ministry / Department.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in Prime Minister’s office Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question by Shri Vijay Jawaharlal Darda in the Rajya Sabha today.